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Forget the jet lag: What happened to the NFL’s best offense?

The Los Angeles Rams endured a miserable start to their 2026 campaign, stumbling to a 27-7 defeat against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia. Sean McVay's squad drew sharp criticism for their travel strategy, arriving merely twenty-four hours before kickoff while the 49ers spent an entire week acclimating down under.

Coming off an MVP-caliber year, quarterback Matthew Stafford struggled mightily in one of his poorest outings to date, while newly acquired receiver Davante Adams was surprisingly absent from red-zone sequences despite pacing the league in touchdowns the previous season.

Matters deteriorated further for Los Angeles with news that premier defensive end Myles Garrett will require arthroscopic knee surgery. Following his quiet showing in the opener, Garrett is slated for an injured reserve stint that will sideline him for a minimum of four contests, leaving McVay to manage unexpected early-season woes on both sides of the ball.